Tag Archives: jazz

In just one week, The Practical Theatre Company will be saying goodbye to 2016 and ringing in the New Year with comedy and song – and your favorite adult beverages.

Tickets are going fast for “Mr. Olsen’s Holiday Party“ on December 30 and 31 at Evanston’s new Studio5 (Dempster & Dodge). There aren’t many tickets left for the New Year’s Eve performance, but you can still reserve seats by clicking here.

PTC vets Paul Barrosse, Victoria Zielinski and Dana Olsen will perform comedy sketches and songs from “The Vic & Paul & Dana Show”, as well as new material crafted for this special variety revue – styled after those classic holiday specials hosted by Andy Williams, Bing and Dean.

Music director and keyboard wiz Steve Rashid will lead a quartet featuring drummer Rockin’ Ronny Crawford, Don Stiernberg on guitar and mandolin, and bassist Jim Cox.

Members of the PTC’s second generation will also perform, including standup comedienne Emilia Barrosse, Giggle Breaks’ Daniel Rashid, singer-songwriter Eva B. Ross and drummer Robert Rashid.

Studio5 features full bar service – and acres of free parking.

The New Year’s Eve performance includes light food and a New Year’s party with live music and dancing after the show.

This Friday, April 29th, Eva B. Ross (my bluesy, jazzy, soulful, singer-songwriter daughter) will play a special 7:30 show Live At The Whiskey Lounge upstairs at 27 Live in Evanston, Illinois.

Of course, maestro Steve Rashid will be hosting this event and tickling the ivories as he leads an unbelievably talented trio backing Eva, including the great Don Stiernberg on guitar and the always-tasty Jim Cox on bass.

If you saw Eva’s concert at The Whiskey Lounge late last summer, you won’t want to miss this one. And if you have yet to enjoy Eva in the company of such wonderful musical artists as Steve, Don and Jim – then check out this show. It’s gonna be a great night.

Okay, folks. If you haven’t seen my singer-songwriter daughter Eva in performance yet – this is the gig to see. And if you have seen her perform before, this will be Eva’s coolest and most important gig yet.

I don’t know much about the music scene in Los Angeles, but I understand that it’s a big deal to play The Hotel Café. It’s evidently one of the groovy gigs to get. And Eva’s got it. She’ll be backed — as always — by guitarist David Miller and the rest of the Eva B. Ross Foundation.

So, check Eva out at The Hotel Café. The show just happens to be on my birthday, Saturday April 16th at 9:45. (Sure it’s a late start – but you can sleep in on Sunday, right? Besides, it’s my birthday, remember? And you don’t want to disappoint an elderly man, do you?)

Eva’s talented UCLA friend, Nick Valentini, is also on the bill with his eclectic and very tasty band. I’ve seen Nick and his crew perform – and they’re brilliant!

It’s going to be a memorable night of great music.

So, be there. Victoria and I will be — and we hope to see you all there.

If you haven’t seen my singer-songwriter daughter Eva in performance yet – this is the gig to see.

I don’t know much about the music scene in Los Angeles, but I understand that it’s a big deal to play The Hotel Café. It’s evidently one of the cools gigs to get. And Eva’s got it.

So, check Eva out at The Hotel Café. The show just happens to be on my birthday, Saturday April 16th at 9:45. (Sure it’s a late start – but you can sleep in on Sunday, right? Besides, it’s my birthday, remember?)

Eva’s very talented UCLA friend, Nick Valentini, is also on the bill with his eclectic and tasty band. I’ve seen Nick and his crew perform – and they’re brilliant!

It’s going to be a legendary night of great music.

So, be there. Victoria and I will be — and we hope to see you all there.

Like this:

My wife Victoria and I have known Dana Olsen since our days at Northwestern University in the late 1970’s. Dana was a damned funny guy then – and he’s gotten even funnier over the years.

While Victoria and I worked on the stage and then in television, Dana focused on screenwriting. Among the many films he’s written are The Burbs, Memoirs of an Invisible Man and George of the Jungle.

Vic and I have remained close with Dana since graduation – and in the past few years we’ve been performing together again. The last time was when we joined Dana and other friends for Mr. Olsen’s New Year’s Rockin’ Neighborhood on New Year’s Eve 2013 at 27 Live in Evanston, Illinois – the college town just north of Chicago where we all first met in 1976.

For the past several months, we’ve been getting together with Dana whenever he’s in town – or we’re in Chicago – to brainstorm and improvise comedy sketches (which is just about our very favorite thing to do in this world). And, golly, the world’s been giving us some great subject matter this year!

Thus comes “The Vic & Paul & Dana Show” — an improv sketch revue featuring music, comedy and a few cocktails. Baby Boomers by birth, we’re all wading chest-deep through middle age. But blessedly, our sharp taste for humor and irony – and a neat Manhattan — has not been dulled. Our show is a toast to grown up fun amid the craziness of contemporary life.

“The Vic & Paul & Dana Show” will play for just three nights – from Thursday, November 19 to Saturday, November 21 at the iO West Theatre in Hollywood, CA. All shows at 7:30.

Come out, enjoy a beverage or two — and share some well-earned laughs with us.